24 February 2008

On February 22, 2008, a B-2 Stealth Bomber crashed for the first time. The mishap occurred at 10:30 local time as the aircraft was taking off from Anderson AB, Guam for it's return to Whiteman AFB, Missouri. The two man crew ejected safely from the doomed aircraft and reported as unhurt from the mishap. The B-2 struck the ground with no further damage to nearby buildings or injury to witnesses on the ground. There were no munitions on board.

The mishap aircraft was part of a four ship formation. The other three aircraft were ordered to return to Guam as a precaution. There are 20 B-2's remaining in the Air Force inventory and are grounded. The cause of the crash is yet to be determined as the Air Force investigations begin.

An Air Force fact sheet lists the price of a B-2 at $1.2 billion, but a report from the Government Accountability Office estimates that each plane can cost up to $2.2 billion.